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Gaza 2013 Olive Harvest
by Marivel Guzman
On August 10, International Solidarity Movement called the international community of Palestinians supporters to come to Palestine to help the residents to harvest the 2013 Olive Harvest. Every year the settlers makes the harvest almost impossible, the presence of ISM members with their cameras y their bodies as human shields help Palestinians to get to their groves without being molested by the settlers.
Every year hundreds of Olive trees are burn or uprooted by settlers, the IDFs presence is obsolete, they do not defend the rights of the Palestinians, for the contrary their presence strengthen the settlers bully attitude.
Harvesting the olives in Gaza, 2013
“We often post distressing news of settlers uprooting, burning or wrecking the olive trees of Palestinians. There is such a report from Sarta, in the north-west West Bank at the foot of this post. But first, we post some lovely photos from Palinfo.com of Palestinians – men and women, young and old – picking and sorting their olives in settler-free Gaza.” Jews for Justice for Palestine
Settlers burn olive trees in Sarta
From International Solidarity Movement, Nablus Team
September 27, 2013
Settlers burned around 35 olive trees in the Palestinian village of Sarta late on Thursday night, following the area being declared a closed military zone in preparation for the construction of a new settler road.
Around 60 settlers from the illegal Bruchin settlement and surrounding area, many armed with guns, set fire to the trees late on Thursday 26th September. At around midnight, the settlers arrived in Sarta. The town mayor asked the Palestinian Authority to liaise with the Israeli army in order to intervene, but when Israeli forces arrived on the scene they informed villagers that the area had been declared closed and told them to leave.
Two days earlier, town residents witnessed four bulldozers arrive in the village to prepare the ground for the construction of the road, which will connect the settlement with road five and is part of an expansion plan for the settlement which will take it from 40 houses to around 550.
The proposed road and settlement expansion is a source of concern to local Palestinians, who stand to lose much of their land under new plans, including local features such as a 500-year-old cemetery.
Col Ann Wrigh Statement
Posted on October 17, 2012 by Akashma Online News
For those who don’t know Ann Wright, she served in the U.S. Army for 29 years, retiring as a Colonel, then put in 16 years in the U.S. diplomatic corps, until she resigned in 2003 to protest the war on Iraq. Since then she has been an indefatigable campaigner for peace and justice around the world.
Statement released by Col Ann Wright
Two days ago, on October 13, three hours before I was to board a flight to Europe to meet up with the Swedish boat to Gaza, the “Estelle,” the next boat to challenge the Israeli blockade, I was called by a board member of the Estelle who said that because of the furor around Greta Berlin’s posting and because I am a member of the new, 2 week old board of the Free Gaza Movement, I was no longer invited to be a passenger on the “Estelle.”The board representative acknowledged that the reason for their invitation to me to be on the “Estelle” was that I am a retired US Army Colonel and former US diplomat who resigned in March, 2003 in opposition to the Iraq war, that I am a vocal critic of Israeli and United States policies on Palestinians and that I have been to Gaza 4 times in the past 3 years, assisted 7 groups to go to Gaza in 2009, helped organize the December, 2009 Gaza Freedom March, was a passenger on the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, helped organize the 2011 US Boat to Gaza and am an organizer for one of the latest initiatives, Gaza’s Ark.
But, because I am a member of the new board of the Free Gaza movement, and despite the fact I, and Greta and all members of the new board have made public statements posted on the Free Gaza Movement’s website that neither Greta, nor members of the current or previous board are anti-Semitic, bigoted or racist, the fact that I am on the new Free Gaza board was the reason the board of the “Estelle” was withdrawing the invitation for me to sail on the Estelle due to allegations of anti-Semitism of the Swedish Boat to Gaza by pro-Israelis groups in Sweden.
I am saddened by the decision of the board to withdraw its invitation and I believe it is wrong. All of our projects that have challenged Israeli policies toward Palestinians have been called anti-Semitic by pro-Israeli groups. This is not a new tactic used to scare pro-Palestinian groups.
Phil Weiss and Adam Horowitz in an article posted on Mondoweiss said – “there is no room for racism in a movement working for equality, justice and freedom for all in Israel/Palestine”—and they are right, but at the same time, there is no room for throwing long-time international activists for Palestine “off the boat,” so to speak.
Greta Berlin is not an anti-Semite, a bigot or a racist, and neither am I.
I wish the passengers and crew on the “Estelle” a safe voyage in challenging the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and call for all who support Palestinians to keep their eyes on the prize—justice, dignity and freedom for Palestinians who are suffering under unjust Israeli policies and actions.
Peace to all and among us all,
Ann Wright
The last Passengers of the Estelle Freedom Boat arrived
Posted on October 16, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Source Rumb0 A Gaza UPDATED
The last passengers arrived to the Estelle Freedom Boat on slow boats from the Greek Isle today October 16, 2012, with destination to Gaza, Palestine.
Today the list get completed and the crew of civilian activists block constituted the group that materialized the hope of that of thousands of activists that had contributed to the dream to brake the Gaza Naval blockade imposed illegal by Israel in 2007.
The activists are expected to arrive in Palestinian waters en few days and with days close a chapter of desperation in Gaza. The residents of Gaza are preparing the arrival of the Estelle with joy and expectation.
The last passengers arrived to the Estelle. Photo Credit Ricardo Sixto
Congressmen from the Spaniard Parliament
The latest Palestinian activists are Parliament personnel from diverse countries:
– Ricardo Sixto, congresista en el parliament Spaniard
– Sven Britton, Parliament y físico Sweden
– Aksel Hagen, Parliament Norway
– Vangelis Diamandopoulos, Parliament Greek
– Dimistris Kodelas, Parlamentario Greek
– Jim Manly, ex congressman Canadian
From this passage, formed by citizens of Finland, Canada, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Italy, Greece and Israel, traveling a group of members of national parliaments to ask, not only in word, but in deed, to end the illegal and inhuman blockade subjected to inhumane conditions that almost two million Palestinian suffer, in what constitutes collective punishment with impunity in the eyes of the international community.
Having this representation is essential to give legal legitimacy and pressure on various governments and international bodies to support the passage of a vessel of civilians in a peaceful action demanding respect for human rights of the people of Gaza .
Until today October 17, 2012 time on the Mediterranean Sea, the Estelle is sailing freely, there is no speed boats or military boats close to the Estelle. We expect the governments of the activists pressure Israel to leave them arrive to Gaza. The group is comprise of official representatives of various Governments of Europe. They are un armed and have a humanitarian mission to fulfill. There is no intention to confront Israeli commandos, they are in strictly humanitarian mission.
The mission is missing one important passenger Ann Wright that was previously in the list of activists, but unfortunate recent events prevented her from being part of the crew.
For those who don’t know Ann Wright, she served in the U.S. Army for 29 years, retiring as a Colonel, then put in 16 years in the U.S. diplomatic corps, until she resigned in 2003 to protest the war on Iraq. Since then she has been an indefatigable campaigner for peace and justice around the world.
You can follow live the Estelle trajectory using the Live Ship Map, just refresh the page using CTRL F5 to update her position.
The Activists of Palestine and the Hasbarist Machine
Posted on October 11, 2012 by Akashma Online News
The Mission is the Estelle Freedom Boat, sailing to Gaza! 🙂
Let me first tell you something that I have noticed in the world of activism, specially in facebook community.
There is jealousy, ego centrism, and love for audiences, specially the guys that are in the business of selling books, conferences and travels around the world activating for a cause.
In the case of Palestine, had been a fertile ground for writers and University Professors to make a name out of themselves discussing Palestine/Israeli Conflict. The aware knows that there is not about strategy, not about “Peace Talks”, we know the peace talks are conducted by the guilty party of the Conflict, and by the supporters of this Party, namely Israel.
The case of Finkelstain, Chomsky and others that are public figures, they are being using Palestine as trampoline, they may be sincere in their support for Palestine but lately I starting to doubt the end goal of this public support. I have to apology if I m wrong, specially in the case of Norman Finkelstain that it is known for 30 years to be a Palestinian supporter. Sometimes I think that these heavy weight Professors in their integrity as a humans being they have to support the cause because it is Just, but in their inner heart, the Noblezed idea of the chosen land for the Jews still permeates out and they can not really decide when it comes to radical positions in favor of Palestine. If they were put in the position to vote to dismantle Israel, would they be able to give that vote and walk away confident that they did the right thing? ..Sometimes I wonder the same for every Israeli Jew that support Palestine, but that came whose ancestry is from Europe or else where, Would they be able to vote for the dismantleling of Israel and go back to their original mother lands? I have asked myself these questions many times.
Now Palestinians; like Abu Abuminah, Omar Bargoutti and other important figures of the movement are being continuously attacked by other activists, and attacking each other as well. If they know that Unity is the key for a stronger movement, I asked them why do they engage in this back and forth attacking each other and dividing the International community with their arguments?…
Now, the latest controversy arises when Greta Berlin which it is a very respected activist, not only in the Palestinian Movement but also in other areas of peace, well she got publicly defended by Gilad Atmoz, which by the way it is kind of close supporter of Ken O’keefe, (which it is a key player in the Palestinian Solidarity) Movement.
Now let’s back up a little..Ali Abuminah wrote an article and got the support of almost hundreds schoolars and activists around the world against Gilad Atmoz..
Now…Gilad Atmoz has been activating for Palestine..but he has a flaw…his approach to the Jewish indentiry has created lots of revolt in the Zionist and Palestinian Movement…(controversial) I mot not sure if he is using that made up and purposely controversy to clime in the ranks of popularity and sell books and conferences , which it is very common these days..
On the other side Mr Atzmon also criticized Omar Bargoutti calling him Anti Semitic…By now I see that Mr Atmoz is being caught up in two instances of Palestinians Activist having to defend themselves instead to concentrating on the Palestinian issue..media attack, need to respond to media inquires, to make articles in response to the public attacks..
Also Mr Atzmon was in the need to ask media inquires, and make many articles defending his position when he was “attacked” by Ali Abuminah and the schoolars, that went to the extent to sign a letter of Disavowing Gilad Atzmon, which made headlines all over England and inside the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, which conveniently made Gilad Atzmon sell more books of his Title “The Wonderering Who” .
Now, we have 3 actors in scene, Gilad Atzmon, Ali Abuminah, Omar Bargoutti..
Then it came a heavy weight actor to the scene Prof Norman Finkelstain, making the argument that the BDS movement was a self cheer leading movements with shaky basis, using a no no go strategy that will have no support from the International organizations and Jews around the world.
At this point we have a mix of controversies all clashing each other..
So we have the enemies of the BDS against Omar Bargoutti, the supporters of Gilad Atzmon with internal conflict with Alu Abuminah supporters, Norman Finkelstain supporters against Omar Bargoutti supporters..so at this point we have a Chaos inside the Palestinian Solidarity Movement that have not help at all..Well good for the books writers that most probably saw their sales raised, and the Pubic speakers saw their conferences booked ..
Then we have this charismatic long time activist that is known to be integral part of the Palestinian Movement and more specially in the Gaza Flotillas Voyages, but here we have another controversy arising. Greta Berlin say few statements about Ken O’keefe when the Road to Hope got stranded in Libya for weeks and end up in the MV Strobes Greek boat kidnapped at sea.
Immediately the controversy started against Ken O’keefe, and the statements of Greta Berlin did not help at all, they made the rumors run wild in between the Palestinian activist community, not only her statements, there were other 2 statements, and a variety of rumors without facts that almost killed the mission.
So by now we have Gilad Atzmon, Ali Abuminah, Omar Bargoutti, Greta Berlin and Ken O’keefe all of them peace activists, some of them published authors, public speakers and Mr. O’keefe that have not published works but has been invited to dozens of TV and Radio shows to speak about Palestine-Israel Conflict..
Now, what happen last week it is unfortunately because again as it has been a trend now, every time that one of this controversies arises in the media, is when there is a Palestinian Mission in the making.
Now as I write this notes, The Estelle Freedom Boat is at sea in its mission to reach Gaza and break the illegal Israel Blockade..
So, how is this started, well nothing really important happened to start this show. But a video that has been controversial in nature is the center of this Media Frenzy.
Greta Berlin shared something in this lines that Zionist were to be blame for the holocaust in a tweeter, but in the National Post appears by Triten Hopper, “Gaza flotilla sponsor publishes tweet blaming Jews for Holocaust”, off course that was not what was tweeted that it is the “Catchy” Headlines that Mr Hopper used to make big fuzz and headlines and divert the attention of Greta Berlin’s Gaza Sailors Greta Berlin Talks About “Freedom Sailors” and the Story of the Free Gaza Movement and its tour promoting the book in Californian and her role behind the Gaza Flotillas, and the most important the Estella Freedom Boat Voyage.
WE know the hasbaras trick of the Israel Paid Media, they distorted anything that needs to be twisted to serve their propaganda..I saw it since the first article..but what made the thing worse at least in facebook was the article of Gilad Atzmon defending Greta Berlin, 3 days later Gilad Atzmon distributed his article “Abuminah Did It Again”, off course Gilad Atzmon enjoy of great readership in his blogs, and that was another started controversy that span wild in the internet. By now we have all the Israel Propaganda Machine making headlines of something without merit..The video that had so much horrorized the Israel supporters is ProffesorEustace Mullin RIP, a well respected Professor, journalist that dedicated his life
As far as Zionism is concerned, the founder of Zionism and apostate, Theodor Herzl, sought to intensify hatred of the Jew in order to enhance the cause of political Zionism and with this advance with the plan to transfer the great majority of Jew to Palestine. In essence this is what is stated in the video and that is not Anti semitic, but the uncover truth
Going back to Greta Berlin, according to Avi Mayer “discovery” on freegaza tweeter she saw this tweet: ““Zionists operated the concentration camps and helped murder millions of innocent Jews,” read a Tweet posted Sunday to @freegazaorg, the official Twitter feed of the group, which includes Canadian author Naomi Klein and Bishop Desmond Tutu on its board of advisers.
WOW, the end of the world, the world Jew and Zionists in the same statement rang the bells of the internet filters and in no time the whole Israel hasbara propaganda machine raise their antennas and started working round the clock..
I do not understand why the Free Gaza Movement had to publish an apology for what Greta Berlin tweeted, I believe that the video it is worth to be analyzed, and raising issues that we think could be possible than have happened is not a crime or reason to call any one Anti Semitic, Besides we all know that this is the hasbara way to operate why give them time and space and with this making bigger something that is not…besides Greta Berlin did not blame jews for the holocaust as the Headline title of Tristan Hopper advertised “Gaza flotilla sponsor publishes tweet blaming Jews for Holocaust” , I m not even going to cite the source of his article, because he did it with the purpose to inflame the Jews Community, and that it is wrong. So I refuse to send one reader to his publication.
1933 connection between Jews and Zionists to transfer the Jews to Palestine…The transfer Agreement the book.Edwin Black Author.
Now, we have another person Greta Berlin, Pro Palestinian, and according to Gilad Atzmon article Ali Abuminah did it again “Is it really possible that not a single Palestinian or Palestinian solidarity activist would stand for Greta Berlin, one of the founders of the Free Gaza Movement and its spokesperson for the last several years? Is it possible that not a single peace activist would rush to defend the person who was directly and physically involved in every naval attempt to break the siege on Gaza? Gilat Atzmon in its vendetta with Ali Abuminah again bring the sour wound that Ali Abuminah opened with that letter…Ay Ay Ay! this look like a soup opera of activist fighting for ratings..
So as you see in this Note, we have Gilad Atmzon against Ali Abuminah, and Omar bargoutti and at the same time against the BDS movement.
We have Greta Berlin against Ken O’keefe, but we have Gilat Atzom in the middle because Gilat Atzmon wrote an article defending Greta Berlin of the Israel Mad Machine of Hasbarists and none of the Palestinians and Palestinians Activists are coming in her defense. Well he deserve merit for defending Greta but at the moments when the Estelle is sailing alone without any exposure from the Media and absent from facebook walls, and people in facebook posting only about Greta Berlin being slandered, he completely took the attention away from the Gaza Flotilla Mission, and in doing this way, Gilad make mention of Ali Abuminah it looks illogical, I do not want to discredit Gilad Atzmon but he chosen the wrong issue, at the wrong time to try to get even with Abuminah.
Then we have Greta Berlin endorsing Gilad Atzmon book, ‘The Wondering Who”, but we know by now that Ken O’keefe have some resentment with Greta Berlin for her statements regarding Ken O’keefe during some Gaza missions that they were part activists.
Now when Ken O’keefe was cleaning his name after being slandered by some activists, and some hasbarists, the old scars surface again on the social networks whole thing seems as being purposely scripted to derail the mission of the Samouni Project that again is being revived, the Estelle Mission and The publication of Gaza Sailors of Greta Berlin.
So what this left us?, A triangle of three loving and hardworking Peace activists divided by the support and nonsupport of each other..
On the other hand, he have Gilad Atzmon and Omar Bargoutti defending their opinion of the BDS, which by the way needs to defense because the BDS Movement is so gigantic and have moved so well that at this pace the Israel boycott will be total in few years, and with this the dismantlement of the Apartheid State. And make sure not to twist these words, I did not say the destruction of the State of Israel, NO! Israel will self destruct very soon, not by the BDS or the global Palestinian Solidarity Movement, or the Palestinian Resistance inside and outside of Palestine, but own Israel hands, her arrogance have no name, and the leaders will have no other but to cut ties with Israel, and Israel with no International support and no free money is nothing but I bunch of guys yelling “Anti Semitic” …
Well I think I have summarized what it is going on in the Activist Community of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement.
Please remember all the blood spilled in Palestine, the thousands of ancients olive tress uprooted, the destruction of ancients Palestinian homes, the millions of Palestinians exiles in other countries, the millions living in refugee camps, the Palestinian children tortured in Israel Jails, the thousands in Israel Jail, the hunger strikers, the Besiege Gaza, All the Palestinian Martyrs. Remember Palestine is still occupied.
It is not about me, about you, is not about Ken O’keefe, Gilad Atzmon, Omar Bargoutti, Ali Abuminah, Greta Berlin, Norman Finkelstain, is not about selling books, about popularity, facebook buddy support, is not about selling conferences, is not about making money blogging, or selling the stories to the Big Media, is not about being on TV or Radio…is about PALESTINE, is about Free Palestine, about Justice, Fairness, Truth, and above all and all is about PEACE, not just in Palestine but in the whole world, because by this time many have come to the conclusion that unless Israel be brought to justice and in the road to justice Israel be completely disarmed, and stop creating conflict around the world, not before all that happen there won’t be World Peace.
Now I leave you with The Video that have Israel hasbarists fuming in the Internet. Please take the time to watch it and make your own mind. At the End the readers are the opinion makers.
And this little excerpt of Eustace Mullins Ideas on Israel and the Federal Reserve
Many of Mullins’ writings show a preoccupation with the idea that the Jews of the world are in a state of war with Christianity and Western civilization, and that Communism, Zionism, and International finance were Jewish tools to subjugate gentile populations. He also believed that in general the interaction between Jews and gentiles was parasitic. He believed that the Rockefellers were also parasitic, but that ultimately the World Order was controlled by Jews and that the end goal of this Jewish oligarchy is “World Zionism.”
Mullins believed that the French Revolution and the Congress of Vienna were key events in which Jews, via conspiratorial machinations, overpowered Gentile governments. He believed that other key moments in the establishment of Jewish power were the creation of the Federal Reserve, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the establishment of the state of Israel.
